1st October - Titchfield Haven NNR, Hampshire

Back home in Hampshire, I was off to Titchfield Haven to meet Ian.  With the days much shorter, it means a later start, but it was still dark.  Last evening there was some very heavy rain and as I left Four Marks I thought there might be a chance of a Barn Owl, as they would be able to hunt now the rain had passed.  As I headed along Ropley Road towards the A32, just past the right turn to Plain Farm I saw a Barn Owl on the fence along side the road.  Usually I just have to remember the sighting, but through the video image from my new dash cam I was able capture at least a record of it, the first I have seen here for a good few years

 Arriving at Hill Head sea front the sun rise was incredible, one of the best I have seen and there have been quite a few spectacular ones.

Looking away to the west the clouds above Fawley were tinged with pink.

It was not quite low tide but there was plenty of beach showing.  The calls of Turnstone alerted us to waders on the beach, one of which was a juvenile Sanderling in amongst the sea weed just below us.

Small waders were moving about, mostly between the harbour mouth and the Rainbow bar.  Turnstone would let you know they were moving with their calls, the Sanderling were quieter and a group of about 30 flew past to settle on the Rainbow Bar before being disturbed by dog walkers.

Conditions, while weather wise quite pleasant, were not ideal.  The wind was from the south west, the sky clear and overnight there had been heavy rain so very little new would have arrived it was all down to what was still about.

We walked to the harbour, looked for the Kingfisher without luck and they ambled back to the cars, a Marsh Harrier distantly put upp the duck and waders on the scrapes, but that was all.  We walked to the chalets and the scrub at the back, several Chiffchaff were calling and showing briefly, but again there was nothing to get the pulses racing.

We couldn't face a walk up the Canal path so made our way back, once again, to the cars.  I picked up a fast flying bird coming towards us and as it banked away over the reserve, realised that it was a Peregrine.

It flew over the reserve and then turned back having flushed several birds from the scrape, one of which it chased at speed.  The intended prey was quick, moving left and right to avoid the falcon.  Here you can see images, the Peregrine the larger.  We think the intended prey was either a Ringed Plover or Dunlin.

After several more swoops the Peregrine began to tire, it was most likely a juvenile bird, still learning but it was impressive to watch.  It had also scattered most of what was on the scrape.  Here as it flew away you can see a group of distant Black-tailed Godwits

Here the Black-tailed Godwits overhead flying out to the beach.

As we arrived back at the cars there was a Great Black-backed Gull tucking into something in the shallow water.  It took a bit of time to identify what it was eating, but eventually it turned the item to reveal a fish's head.

So it was back to scanning Duck Bay where the water levels had fallen to expose the mud at the base of the reeds, and as is almost always the case now a Water Rail could be seen walking along at the bottom of the reeds by the water's edge.

There was still sufficient beach for the small waders to forage.  Common Sandpipers have been around in good numbers this autumn and there was one down on the beach.  They have a habit of stretching their wings and then holding the pose.

There was also quite a few Turnstone, but this one bird was feeding on the slope of the sea wall, which made it look like you were down at ground level but without all the effort of lying down and of course the getting up!

It would have been nice if the Common Sandpiper had done the same, but it stayed on the beach.

And some more wing stretching.

Off shore the first Brent Geese for me of the autumn were passing.

With the time for the reserve to open approaching we headed back to the visitor centre.  I checked the garden for a special fungi that had been present a couple of weeks ago.  The specimen then was aged but today there were at least 3 good specimens.

Rare in mainland Britain but fairly common in the Channel Islands, this saprobic fungus is generally referred to as the Red Cage, Lattice Stinkhorn or Basket Stinkhorn. It is common in central and southern Europe.  The names refer to the striking fruit bodies that are shaped somewhat like a round or oval hollow sphere with interlaced or latticed branches.

The fungus is saprobic, which refers to it feeding off decaying woody plant material, and is often found alone or in groups in leaf litter on garden soil, grassy places, or on woodchip garden mulches.

It is a remarkable species, almost certainly introduced rather than native to northern Europe. When seen for the first time it is often assumed to be something other than a fungus. Like the common stinkhorn and the dog stinkhorn of which it is related, this Red Cage emerges from a white ball or 'egg' and like other members of this family the egg is said to be edible, however there are other reports saying that eating Red Cage eggs can cause serious gastric upsets.

There was still time to check once again at the bridge.  A Little Grebe was immediately below us.

The water level was much lower now and a Water Rail was making its way towards us from the right hand side, weaving its way through the reed stalks.  The last few weeks have been excellent for Water Rail sightings.

Checked in at the visitor centre coming out to head to the west side I heard that familiar whistling call.  I turned to check from the bridge and found the owner of the call settled in the tree at the farthest point visible

Then she flew to one of the posts in the middle of the water.

I say "she" because the lower mandible is coloured red which indicates this is in fact a female.

The sign that she was about to leave.

Like a bullet

But returned to watch from the strategically positioned stick.

And the branches of the tree on the left hand side.

So we finally made it to the Meon Shore Hide and was greeted with reduced water levels but not that many birds.  Away to the left hand side there was a group of small waders, mostly Dunlin, nine in total and with them were two juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, much to distant for decent photographs, we would have to wait for them to hopefully come close.

There were a few Lapwing about, this individual making a nice composition with the reflection and small mounds of mud.

Then came the arrival of one of the recent specialties, a Glossy Ibis, flying in from up the river valley and settling at the back of the south scrape, a little too distant for any clear definition, but providing an unmistakable silhouette.

Then as hoped for the small waders made their way closer to the hide.  Here a Curlew Sandpiper with wings raised.

Showing the longer decurved bill and clear creamy white supercilium.

The juveniles have this pale pink wash on the breast, although this was beginning to fade.

The two birds together.

The mud in front of the hide was baked hard and the sandpipers did not venture on to this, as they would not be able to probe into, which is their preferred feeding method.  Common Sandpipers are happy picking insects of the more solid footing.  Here they are feeding on the soft mud that doesn't have any water covering it.

A trail of footprints through the mud showing where they have been.

The Ibis was on the move at the back of the scrape and it gave a glimpse of the varied colours revealed by the sun in the plumage.  It did not go far and settled back down onto the scrape.

There had been a Kestrel on the fence and it had gradually edged its way closer until it was alongside the hide.

It then launched itself across scrape in front of us, scattering the waders.

The Glossy Ibis had worked its way closer and with some sunshine returning, I managed at least one view that showed off the colours once again.

Then it was off, taking off and heading for the river.

Dropping down with some spectacular whiffling into Duck Bay.

We decided to try and see if we could get a better view from the platforms, but as we located the Ibis on the river it flew up and returned to the scrape.  Rather than chase after it again we decided to have an early lunch before heading back into the reserve.

After lunch back in the Meon Shore Hide, the Ibis had gone, taken flight and headed west towards Hook.  We settled back down for some more patient viewing and were rewared by the appearance of a Marsh Harrier.

 

It would come down from above the trees to fly low over the reed tops and surprise the duck and waders on the scrape.  We believe this is the immature bird seen earlier last month

With everything up in the air the Marsh Harrier would gain height to and circle around with the Starlings.

The light was a little different now and the Lapwing had been joined by another and a couple of Redshank.

The different light was making views of the Curlew Sandpipers better and also providing some nice reflections.

The curlew sandpiper breeds on the tundra of Arctic Siberia.  It is strongly migratory, wintering mainly in Africa, but also in south and southeast Asia and in Australia and New Zealand.  

Despite its easterly breeding range, this species is regular on passage in western Europe, presumably because of south westerly migration route.

It forages in soft mud on marshes and the coast, mainly picking up food by sight. It mostly eats insects and other small invertebrates.  This wader is highly gregarious, and will form flocks with other calidrid waders, particularly dunlin.

One of the Dunlin that was feeding with the Curlew Sandpiper had a badly damaged foot.  In this photograph the foot itself is twisted away at a right angle and looks extremely uncomfortable.  However we had seen the same bird two weeks ago an it didn't appear to be inconvenienced by it.  The bird itself was also showing remains of the rusty summer breeding plumage.

With the parking time drawing to an end we decided to move on, leaving the west side and moving over to the east.  This was not as successful, with very little to see of interest, the only thing worth photographing being this Red Admiral outside the visitor centre.

Walking back past the bridge the tide was very high and sitting on the rock close to where the Kingfisher had been earlier was a Grey Heron.

Being so close it was an opportunity for some portrait shots.

Almost head on, but showcasing the impressive dagger like bill and the almost binocular vision

It then picked up somethin in the water below, lowering the head closer to the water then in a flash a stab and it comes back up with this!

A small Grey Mullet, the spiny dorsal fin being diagnostic.

It then proceeded to manipulate the fish around in the bill to get the fish head on to swallow.

Head first and swallow.

We left the heron to entertain others and made our way back towards the cars, however we had a little detour to the high tide roost.  As mentioned the tide was very high and there was a large group of Ringed Plover and Sanderling on the beach.  We couldn't resist the opportunity.

There was a sizeable roost with just over 70 Sanderling present, the majority were this summer's juveniles which appear a little darker as opposed the paler grey of the adult birds in winter plumage.

While some just rested out on the beach others were extremely active in the surf, rushing in to pick off anything worth eating that was washed up by the waves.

As well as the Sanderling there was also a decent Ringed Plover roost of 62 birds.  Again there was a mix of adults and juveniles from this summer's breeding season.

An adult Sanderling with remains of the russet brown summer plumage.

They were picking at the pebbles and turning over stone and picking off insects you couldn't see.

Coming straight at you!

Will this be the final Sanderling shot of the year?  Some how I doubt it!

A day that to be honest I did not expect much of has turned out to be a little special with some great birds and photo opportunities.  There is always something to see and watch.